Variable stroke meter



Oct. 21, 1941. L. E. RUSH 2,259,587

VARIABLE STROKE METER Filed July 13. 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 2l,1941. L, E RUSH Y 2,259,587'

VARIABLE STROKE METER Filed July l5, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 llllllll /36L36 r1 12:02,' g :,204

' y INVENTOR E0 f. )Y1/JH.

Patented Oct. 2l, 1941 UNITED l As'mfres PATENT ,oFFicl-: 'f und". I K Imnnzsmweatdztxtnndsm one-half to Buffalo, N. Y.

W. Bchncokenburger,

Application July 13, 1931!, Serial 16.219.528 l z cum. '(cl. 10s-ss)This invention relates to a device for controlling the length of thestroke of a piston. incorporated in a meter structure for example, whichpiston is enclosed within a housing and the control for varying thelength of stroke has a portion external of the housing for adjustmentPurposes.

In apparatus of this general character, including an enclosed meterstructure, said meter structure has a metering arrangement whichincludes f a source of power rotatable at a predetermined rate foroperating piston means operable by said power and valve means operablein timed relation to piston operation.

The present invention is directed to a strucmeter manufactured by thePittsburgh Equitable Meter Company and certain portions of the same areillustrated herein and with the invention applied thereto.

` One purpose of the invention, applied to the dispensing of liquids; isto vary the amount dispensed in accordance with the variation in theture of the aforesaid character and is so arranged that while the sourceof power rotates at the predetermined ilxed rate, the volume of thematerial handled may be varied without disturbing the valve to pistonrelationship so that thevolume handled by the structure will vary inaccordance with the adjustment. Such adjustment is of an externaloperable type character.

Such adjustment is specifically associated with the operating piston so'as to effect a variation .in the length of its stroke and to obtain thevolumetric change desired but whichV change does not effect the timedrelationship previously mentioned.

The chief object of the invention is to provide a structure which willaccomplish the foregoing purposes and the chief feature of the inventionconsists in a construction whereby the aforesaid object is accomplished.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a sectional view through one embodiment of the invention,parts being broken away for clearness.

Fig. 2 is a similar view taken in a plane at right angles to the planeof the section shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a' view similar to Fig. l and of a modifled form of theinvention.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of another modified form of theinvention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4 and in thedirection of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of a modined form of stroke adjustingmechanism. v

Fig. 'I is a sectional view thereof taken on line 1-1 andin thedirection of the arrows.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the embodibase price level so that ifthe meter registers cost, then the meter will always register actualtotal cost proportional to the volume dispensed even though the unitvolume cost vary. This permits the employment of relatively simplemetering mechanisms for cost computing purposes and is particularlyapplicable to the dispensing of gasolinel kerosene and lubricating oilsand more especially the first mentioned liquid.

In Figs. 1 and 2, l0 indicates a housing which l includes two chambersil and I2 closed as at i! and I4, respectively. A chamber I5 is providedtherebetween. A cap It is suitably secured to the housing i0 and forms achamber i1 therein. The chamber Il discharges by way of the passage IB.A' shaft I9 is rotatable at a constant R. P. M. It extends through thehousing I5 and the llatter connection is suitably sealed by a packingstructure 20.

Mounted on the end of the shaft I9, within chamber I1, is a gear 2lwhich meshes with a pinion 22 rigid with a gear 23. Gear 23 meshes witha gear 23a carried by shaft 24 enclosed in a sleeve 25 mounted in abearing 25 extending from thehousing i0 into chamber Il. The gear 23 andits supporting shaftarrangement are arranged to rotate elements 21 and28 and this constitutes a valve arrangement. The same has apredetermined timed cycle with reference to the rotation of the bevelgear 29 mounted at the lower end of the sleeve 25. In other wordselements 21 and 2t have the same rate of rotation as the gear 29. 'Ihisgear is a miter gear and meshes with another miter gear 35 carried byshaft 3l, mounted in bearings 32 in the opposed walls 15a of the chamberl5.

'I'he oppositely extending ends of the shaft 2| each mount a crank armstructure 35, the same being of the adjustable clamp character and eachincluding an eccentric pin Il. As shown in Fig. 2, the two arms 3l have90 positioning.

Reference will now be had to the lower portion of Fig. 2. The numeral l5indicates two spaced walls of an outer casing structure and the same areapertured as at a to expose a knurledscrew 35. The wall 35 includes anaperture tl-see Fig. l-and through the same is visible a dial I8.

ment selected for illustration is taken from a 55 The dial ll issuitably secured to the face of a '561s one end of a connecting rod 58.

gear 3l rotatably mounted on a stationary shaft 48. Also to the gear issecured knurled finger piece 86 so that as the finger piece isrotated,'the dial 88 is also rotated. The opposite wall 35 is similarlyapertured and adjacent thereto' is mounted a similar dial 38 carried bya similar gear 38 similarly mounted upon ,another stationary shaftl4l.Beneath the shaft 48 andv extending through the device is a shaft 4| andeach projecting end extends through a packing or stufllng box arrangement 42 and mounts a pinion 48. AThev pinion 43 at each end mesheswith the` adjacent gear 33. I'he shaft 4| mounts a pair of worms 44,each of which meshes with av worm wheel 45. Since the followingdescribed construction is of dual character andthe partsl aresubstantially identical, the remaining description willbe set forth withreference to one of the controls operable by-its associated worm wheel.

.The worm wheel is rigid with a shaft structure 46 rotatably supportedas at 41 in the bearing. The shaft 46 is threaded as at 48 and is.received by the threaded socket 43- of a tubular l member 50. Tubularmember 50 terminates in a bifurcated portion 5| and is apertured as at52 to receive a bolt structure 53, the latter constituting a pivotalsupport, asat 54, for a link 55.

asados? externally'expo'sed member 36 and "without re" quiring access tothe interior of the pump metering mechanism or the like, so that theeifective `relationship between the valve mechanism and ',isnevermodified.

Reference will now be had to Fig. 3 wherein the pump structure,`represented by the pistons,

there is illustrated a modied form of the invention. Numerals of the 100series herein indicate like or equivalent parts, similar tocorresponding parts in Figs. 1 and 2 designated by numerals of theprimary series. 'This form of the invention merely differs from thatillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 in that the adjustment of the pivot for theadjusting link is specifically of a character 'I'he link 55-supports apin structure56 secured thereto as at 51. i Pivotally supported on thispin `Within the chamber is a cylinder structure 59 closed by a head 60.Mounted in the cylinder is a piston 6| having a wrist pin 62 to whichthe other end of connecting rod 58 is connected. This piston is doubleacting. As shown in Fig. 2, there are two `piston and cylinderconstructions and as shown in Fig. 2 also, the two crank arms having theeccentric pins 34 are positioned 90 to each other.

Thel walls' |5a are suitably recessed as at 63 and extending across thesame is a pivot member 64 secured thereto as at 65 and the same mountsYThe pin 56 which pivotally supports one end of the connecting rod 581sof a length such that it does not project beyond the median plane of theslot 51 as shown clearly in Fig. 2. Similarly, the

llength of the associated crank pin 34 is such that it does not projectbeyond the median plane of said slot, so thatboth pins may ride in saidslot and clear each other. y

From the foregoing, therefore, it is evident that as the linger piece 36is rotated, the threaded member 48 is rotated. Such rotation is inaccordance with the variation in the unit volume price, for examplepurposes only, and will expose` the appropriate .unit volumepricedesignation through the Vopenings 31 upon opposite sides of thedevice. vSuch rotation of the member 48 will cause the member 50 toelevate. 'I'liis elevates .the link 55 as well as its pivot support 53,and, therefore, moves the connecting rod plvotallconnection 56 closer tothe upper end of the .slot 61.

Thus, lin one complete revolution of the crank arm, the piston willexecute one complete stroke xbut by Athis mechanism, the length of thestroke 'of the piston will be varied to that desired and pinned orotherwise different from that shownin thebottom portion of Figs.. 1 and2, although of the same general character.

In Fig. 3 the threaded 4tubular member |50 is slidably supported inbearing |03. A packing structure |'02 seals the member in chamber Astirrup |00 is secured to housing ||0 as at |0'|. Member |50 extendsinto the stirrup. A sleeve or thimble |05 has a reduced nest portion |06seated in aperture |41 of the stirrup.

-It carries at its upper end a scale |38. Member |50 is provided withscale |31. It is also bored as at |06a toslidably receive member |50. Itis suitably secured to shaft 4|46 as at |01. v

The exposed hand wheel |36 is suitably secured by pinning or the like asat |36a to shaft |46. The shoulder on thimble |05 and hub on hand wheel|36 prevent axial movement of the same and shaft- |46. Rotation,however, raises or lowers member |50. The scales |31|38 indicate theadjustment. Scale |31 could indicate the price in penny units and scale|38 could indicate the fractions thereof in tenths or twentieths of acent for example.

No further description is believed necessary in view of the completedescription of operation given` for the form of the inventionillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

In Figs. 4 and 5 a modified form of the invenshaft having crank portion20| provided with an' elongated slot 202 in which rides the wrist pin203 which pivotally mounts one end of connecting rod 204. i

Pin 203 is carried by block 205 having a slot 206 therein undercut as at201. It also has secured thereto, as by welding or the like, theparallel tubes 206 having bores 209 therein adapted to slidably receiverod members 2 I0 carried by member2||. 'I'his is supported on a hub 2|2of the housing 2 I3. The hub end is threaded as at 2 |4 and mounts nut2|5 which retains the member 2|| against axial movement.

A shaft 2|6 is slidably, and in some instances rotatably, supported inbearing 2|2 and its extension 2 2a externally threaded at 2 4a to mounta packing cap 2 |1. The shaft 2 6 extends therethrough and has athreaded end 2|8 and the extremeend is socketed as at 2 I9 to seat aball 220 having an elongated threaded stem 22| having threadedconnection at 222 with stirrup 223 se- Rotation of shaft 2 I 5, if sameoccurs, does not af' fect this adjustment.

Shaft 2I5 at is opposite endincludes a head portion 230 which seats inthe undercut slot 205- 201 in member 205. ly, as aforesaid, the rod .andtube lconnection causesmember 205 to approach or recede from member 2 II. to approach the axis of power shaft 2 00-'or recede therefrom, thusshortening or lengthening 204 and its con.

the stroke of the connecting rod nected piston not shown. j

If the head 230 on shaft 2I3 is square or rec' tangular as shown, shaft2I5 will rotate with members 205 and 2 I I.

In Figs. 6 and "I there is illustrated a modified form of the invention.300 indicates the power shaft, 30I the wrist pinAand 302 the crank armincluding the elongated slot 303 undercut at 302 (see Fig. 7). The endof said slot is closed by a T-shaped member 305 pinned at 305'to crankarm 302. Member 305 is apertured as at 301 and threaded to receivethreaded member 303. f

Member 300 is rotatably mounted at one end in member 303 carried bywrist pin 30|. Member 303 includes socket 3I0 and member 303 therein isgrooved as at 3II and pin 3I2 so positioned therein and carried bymember 303.V Rotation of member 303 moves, member 303 toward and awayfrom the axis of shaft 300 and within pin 30I so that the length-ofstroke of the connecting rod and connected piston (not shown) issimilarly varied. The adjustment is locked by lock nut 3I5.

In this form of the basicvinvention the manuallyadjustable portionrotates with the power As shaft 2I3 is moved axialy In this movement pin203 is caused If, however, it is circular, shaft 2I6 need not rotate.

mechanism. In the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5 it, referring to shaft2I5, may or may not rotate therewith as desired; while in the formsshown in Figs. l to 3, inclusive, the manual adjustment never rotateswith the power.

While the invention has been illustrated and describedin great detail inthe drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered asillustrative land not restrictive in character.

'I'he several modifications described herein as weil as others whichwillreadily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all areconsidered to be within the broad scope of the invention, referencebeing had to the appended claims.

The invention' claimed is:

1. In combination a source of power having a predetermined speed ofrotation, valve mechanism operable cyclically thereby. apistonreciprocable by said power and in timed relation to valvemechanism operation, a housing enclosing the piston, manually operablemeans external of the housing` for piston vstroke adjustment, and

means within the housing and operable by the manually operable mechanismand operable byl said power and interposed between the piston nectionbetween' rod and link.

2. A structure as defined by` claim 1 characterized by the connectionbetween the link and rod including a pin projecting toward the levermember, the first mentioned pin and slot connection including a slot inthe lever member and pin a carried by the crank, both pins seating inthe slot of the lever 'member from opposite sides and of such lengththat each may have free longitudinal movement therein.

LEO E. RUSH.

